The UK government has agreed to delay the introduction of all new Clean Air Zones (CAZs) until 2021.

The announcement follows requests from several local councils and business organisations to delay their introduction until after the COVID-19 crisis has passed.

The move will be welcomed by transport operators already wrestling with the problems of keeping goods and services moving during the outbreak.

Natalie Chapman, Head of Urban Policy at the Freight Transport Association (FTA) commented, “As the business organisation representing the logistics sector, FTA has been urging government to delay the introduction of CAZs urgently to allow businesses to focus their efforts on keeping goods moving throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, so we are so pleased to receive a letter today from Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister, Rebecca Pow MP, to confirm the implementation of the schemes will indeed be postponed until at least January 2021.”